The Thomson Bulldog Athletic Booster Club, in partnership with 15 local businesses, has pledged $25,000 to Thomson High School and the McDuffie County Board of Education. The funds will be used to upgrade strength and conditioning equipment at the high school.

Richard Downs is president of the boosters club; Billy Anderson is vice president; former coach Paul Leroy is treasurer; and Judy Wood is secretary.

Memberships are available to anyone who wants to support athletics in McDuffie County schools. Individual memberships are $10 a year; family memberships are $15 a year; and Bulldog Parking memberships are $100 a year.

The club meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the THS Athletic Building.

Anyone interested in becoming a member or getting on the club's mailing list may contact any officer or send a letter to The Thomson Bulldog Athletic Booster Club, P.O. Box 2004, Thomson, GA 30824.

The club is a nonprofit organization.

"The club recognizes that youth athletics has the ability to help build the leaders of tomorrow while improving the lives of students and the quality of life in our community today," a news release prepared for the occasion said.

THS athletic director and football coach Milan Turner thanked the group for their pledge and made a pledge in return.

"This is gonna be the Lord's program as far as I'm concerned," he said.